82 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • MAY 17, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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“Columbinus” at Secret Theatre
Queens kids prepare for performance at famed Apollo Theater
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
Students from schools in Fresh
Meadows, Richmond Hill and Ozone
Park have been busy getting ready for a
big performance at one of the country’s
most historic venues.
Over 100 kids from P.S. 178, P.S. 90
and P.S. 64 took the stage at Th e Apollo
Th eater on May 17 as part of the Young
People’s Chorus of New York City’s
(YPC) annual showcase. Th e students
joined young learners from 18 schools
throughout fi ve boroughs.
Th e Queens kids have been working
since October in preparation for the
performance, according to YPC School
Choruses program coordinator Sonny
Willis. Th e conductor worked with students
at P.S. 178 and 64 aft er school and
during the school day and taught them
how to read and write music, perform
with healthy vocal techniques and collaborate
with their peers.
“Th ere’s a really great level of excitement
among students,” Willis said.
“For many of them, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to perform on such a
legendary stage.”
Titled “Red Light, Green Light,” the
concert program explores the sounds of
growing up in New York City. Students
performed a mashup of playground
chants, rhymes and multicultural pop
culture songs while incorporating choreography
work.
“We wanted to feature pieces that
refl ect the diversity of New York City,”
Willis said. “We’ve really added a lot of
movement this year, and that’s really
enhanced the program.”
During practices and in-school performances
leading up to the showcase, students
are treated “not as kids, but as artists,”
Willis noted. Kids are taught about
posture, breathing techniques, how to
navigate a score and other musical concepts.
“Th ere’s a really special connection
with the music and how it’s relevant for
them,” he continued. “Th ey can learn
Photo courtesy of Sonny Willis
about so many diff erent aspects of our
society and culture through music and
learn about themselves and how to contribute
to a larger group.”
Th e Young People’s Chorus of New
York City was founded in 1988 and
off ers over 1,700 children access to aft erschool,
in-school and community programs.
Students at P.S. 178Q preparing for the performance
Intense drama and quasi documentary
tell the terrifying and tragic tale of the
Columbine massacre of 1999. Executive
Producer Richard Mazda and Director
Savannah Mazda have cast eight very talented
actors who interpret very diff erent
roles throughout the story.
To the production’s credit, there are
no histrionics or unrealistic, exaggerated
emotions. Nor does the audience feel
stifl ed by excessive preaching or bloody
reenactments. Instead we are mesmerized
by an incredibly articulate series of
character studies.
Yes, the pair of teen assassins are very
deeply troubled. But several powerful
scenes depict other teens behaving in a very
anti-social manner. What is it that snaps
in young minds that turns them from dysfunctional
adolescents into killers?
As assassins Kliebold and Harris,
actors Sean McCoy and Caleb Donahoe
are hauntingly eff ective. Both are painfully
thin with outbursts of rage and
smirks of ruthlessness that send chills
through the theatre. Th ey execute their
luckless prey with demonic determination
and occasionally warped mercy.
At times the six victims are young
and sympathetic. In other characterizations
they are adults who speak the
unspeakable. Th ere are silent tears staining
the cheeks of Kendra Holloway. Th e
provocative high schooler and the world
weary adult is Carly Dieck. A naïve kid
and shocked neighbor are among the
emotions revealed by Olivia Hoff man’s
personas. Th e guys at the school and
numerous other roles (oft en brilliantly
understated) are well played by Eli
Denson, Justin Andrew Davis and Jordan
Lemmon.
Th e most piercing eff ect occurs when
the fourth wall is breached and the actors
look directly into the eyes of the audience.
Th is is truly a powerful production
worthy of the Secret Th eatre’s always
groundbreaking projects.
Deeply earned bows as well to Cecelia
Gray (stage manager/tech), Justin Hsu
(production manager), Sophie Talmadge
Silleck (lighting design), TzuCh ing
Cheng (set designer) Jessica Fornear
(stagehand), Amelia Boheme (costume
assistant) and Syed Rahman (photos).
For information on this and upcoming
productions, surf to www.secre�� heatre.
com, call their hotline at (718) 392-0722
or “like” them on Facebook. As always,
save me a seat on the aisle.
A VIEW FROM
THE CLIFF
BY CLIFF KASDEN
link
/www.secre
